Trusan Sugut Forest Reserve
A Remote Rainforest Location in Borneo
Hidden deep in the northeast of Sabah, Trusan Sugut Forest Reserve is one of Borneo’s newest and most exciting wildlife destinations. Located between the Sugut and Paitan rivers in the Beluran district, this protected rainforest covers approximately 8,680 hectares and forms part of the larger Sugut Conservation Area.
Once a logging forest, the reserve was reclassified as a Class I Protection Forest in 2014, marking a new era focused on conservation, ecological restoration, and responsible eco-tourism.
Today, Trusan Sugut is emerging as a remote alternative to the more visited wildlife destinations of Sabah, offering exceptional biodiversity, extensive 4×4 safari exploration, and intimate wildlife encounters in a regenerating rainforest ecosystem.
Trusan Sugut remains off the beaten path, untouched by mass tourism-experience its rare remoteness and charm while it still exists this way.
Why Visit Trusan Sugut
Trusan Sugut offers a rare combination of high biodiversity and extremely low tourism pressure. Its compact yet diverse landscape supports a remarkable range of wildlife while remaining largely unexplored.
Key highlights include:
• One of Sabah’s newest wildlife safari destinations
• Over 168 mammal species and 335 bird species recorded
• Important population of wild orangutans in northern Sabah
• Seven species of hornbills
• Excellent opportunities for night safaris and rare nocturnal mammals
• Remote rainforest setting with minimal visitor numbers
• Up to 12 hours of daily 4WD safari drives
The reserve’s recovering rainforest ecosystem makes it particularly interesting for wildlife photographers, naturalists, and conservation-focused travellers.
Where to stay in Trusan Sugut
Accommodation within the reserve is located at Frederick Kugan Base Camp, a remote research-style field station adapted for small-group wildlife tourism.
The camp provides comfortable but simple accommodation designed for guests whose priority is wildlife exploration rather than luxury.
Accommodation options include:
• Three-bedroom family chalet
• Two-bedroom chalets
• Private studio rooms
• Male and female dormitories
Facilities include:
• Open-air dining hall
• Air-conditioned rooms
• Generator-powered electricity
• Satellite internet access
• Briefing and wildlife log area
Meals served at the camp are typically Malaysian home-style cuisine prepared with local ingredients.
How to Safari in Sugut
Unlike many rainforest destinations where wildlife viewing requires long treks, Trusan Sugut offers extensive 4×4 safari exploration along forest tracks.
Typical activities include:
4×4 Wildlife Drives
Morning and afternoon safari drives explore remote forest roads in search of primates, birds, and large mammals.
Night Safaris
Nocturnal drives reveal a completely different side of the rainforest with species such as Civets, Flying squirrels, Slow loris, Owls and night birds
Occasionally guides may also encounter elusive predators such as the clouded leopard.
Birdwatching
With hundreds of bird species recorded, the reserve is a paradise for birders and wildlife photographers.
Forest Restoration Activities
Visitors may also participate in conservation efforts such as tree planting initiatives supporting rainforest restoration programs in partnership with conservation organisations.
Wildlife Encounter in Trusan Sugut
Despite its relatively small size, Trusan Sugut protects a wide range of habitats including mixed dipterocarp forest, freshwater swamp forest, kerangas forest, mangroves, and coastal forest.
This mosaic of ecosystems supports an impressive variety of wildlife.
Mammals in Sugut
Visitors may encounter:
• Bornean orangutan
• Bornean banteng (seen frequently)
• Proboscis monkey
• Bornean gibbon
• Leopard cat
• Sunda clouded leopard
• Civets and flying squirrels
• Slow loris
Birdlife in Sugut
Birdwatchers will find exceptional diversity including:
• Rhinoceros Hornbill
• Helmeted Hornbill
• Great Argus pheasant
• Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle
• Kingfishers, bee-eaters and barbets
More than 330 bird species have been recorded within the reserve.
Getting to Trusan Sugut
The Trusan Sugut reserve lies approximately 75 km northwest of Sandakan, south of Sugut river. We offer two different modes of transport to reach Trusan Sugut.
Overland + River Route
Drive from Sandakan to Beluran jetty for 1-1.5 hours, and then by a motorised longboat for an hour along the Sugut River. You may observe Borneo’s wildlife along the river.
Overland 4×4 Route
Drive 2 hours to Paitan, then continue with a 3–4 hour 4WD journey into the forest reserve.
We always recommend our guests the River route for its scenic beauty and less travel time. More often, our guests visit Trusan Sugut as part of a more intense multi-location Wildlife Tours, and we try to use each mode of transport in one side.
What is so Special about Trusan Sugut
- Borneo’s Most Remote Wildlife Destinations: Trusan Sugut Forest Reserve remains largely unexplored compared to other wildlife areas in Sabah. With very few visitors and vast regenerating rainforest, the reserve offers a truly off-the-beaten-path Borneo safari experience for travellers seeking solitude and authentic wilderness.
- Exceptional Biodiversity in a Compact Forest: Despite its relatively small size, the reserve supports remarkable wildlife diversity, including wild orangutans, hornbills, proboscis monkeys, civets and other rare rainforest mammals. Its mixture of dipterocarp forest, swamp forest and coastal habitats creates ideal conditions for rich biodiversity.
- Diverse Safari Experiences in One Landscape: Trusan Sugut offers a rare combination of rainforest trekking, 4WD wildlife safaris, and boat exploration along the Sugut River. This variety allows visitors to experience the rainforest from multiple perspectives — on foot through forest trails, by vehicle along remote tracks, and by boat along scenic waterways.